Volunteer Spotlight: Ian Felstead
Hero volunteer Ian Felstead, a.k.a. Car Man!
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, Ian spends a couple evenings a week driving around the city.
From his home in Jackson Heights, Queens, he drives his car through any or all boroughs to transport supplies for the Custom Collaborative community. His deliveries ensure that Training Institute students have the supplies they need to continue learning remotely and that Business Incubator participants have the fabric, needles, elastic and other materials they need to make face masks. Ian’s deliveries are crucial to keep Custom Collaborative’s makers earning money during the pandemic and allows Custom Collaborative to distribute completed masks to frontline workers.
Although Ian’s job allows him to work from home, he donates his evenings to Custom Collaborative whenever he can. “Whatever they need from me, I’ll take them up on it!” he says.
Ian began volunteering a couple of weeks ago when a friend of his, a human rights lawyer in the fashion industry, connected him with Mo Tadikonda — Custom Collaborative’s Career Coach who works with Training Institute participants to help them realize their professional potential. Custom Collaborative was in search of someone with a car, willing to ferry supplies throughout the city.
“ “I have more time on my hands, I’m not completely overloaded,” he explained. “So, I leapt at the chance of doing some good. It’s something I truly believe in as well, women’s empowerment.” ”
Volunteer Ian Felstead with Mo Tadikonda — Custom Collaborative’s Career Coach
Originally from England, Ian has lived and worked in New York City for the past 20 years. Currently, he works as the Executive Assistant to the Vice President of the New York Genome Center. Usually, his department’s work focuses on sequencing DNA from various institutes and researching treatments and cures for cancer and diseases like Alzheimers. Now, all research has been redirected to COVID-19. Not only does Ian ensure that CC has the help they need to provide essential services, but works daily to make COVID-19 less of a mystery and to develop a vaccine.
Throughout his career, Ian has traveled the world for work, and being an immigrant himself, knows the value of diversity. Ian expressed his admiration for what Custom Collaborative represents, “I live in Jackson Heights, which is one of the most diverse places on the planet. I love cultures all mixing together and being part of that… I like that idea that Custom Collaborative is so international and such a mixture of people, and I know first-hand that [immigrants] need help.”
“Also, I’m meeting people!” Ian exclaims. “Just greeting them and saying ‘Hi’. That, to me, is kinda nice. When you’re working in an office all day, you don’t get to do that.” Transporting materials has not only been incredibly helpful for Custom Collaborative, but has given Ian an excuse to get out of the house and connect with others in such a lonely time (6 feet away, of course, and sporting a CC face mask).
People like Ian make our work at Custom Collaborative possible! We can’t thank him enough. We are so grateful for all the support from our community and the life-saving work that essential workers and volunteers do everyday. Thank you!
Learn more about how you can help support Custom Collaborative’s work here.